"Kim Jong Un expressed regret for the incident, which is an important gesture," Quintana said. Nagorno-Karabakh fighting enters 3rd day; world leaders urge talks. Sept. 30 (UPI) -- An investigative court in India on Wednesday acquitted nearly three dozen people who were accused in the destruction of a historic mosque nearly three decades ago, due to a lack of evidence. UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly on Monday condemned North Korea's "systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights" and its diversion of resources into pursing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles over the welfare of its people. North Korea chose not to speak at the Council briefing, which focused largely on a United Nations inquiry that had found widespread and systematic human rights abuses. Copyright © 2020 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The U.N. investigator on North Korea human rights condemned Pyongyang for the slaying of a South Korean citizen last week. Kim did not address the recent killing, and said the North Korean leader's "extraordinary wisdom and strong determination" enabled the country of 25 million to take "pre-emptive measures" to "prevent the inflow and spread of the pandemic.". Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? UN report: North Korean officials abused repatriated women, CDC places 'moratorium' on releasing new COVID health guidance, Gray parrots separated at zoo after swearing a blue streak, Trump falsely claims 'poll watchers' blocked from observing early voting in Philly, Extremist group relishes in Trump's mention during debate. Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Instant noodles are a prized food item in North Korea eaten on special occasions, a North Korean defector says. "That will…ignite resistance on the North Korean side and put us even further away from peace and the protection of human rights.". USMC F-35 fighter crashes near U.S.-Mexico border after midair collision, House postpones stimulus vote after Pelosi, Mnuchin meeting, Comey defends FBI probe of Trump-Russia links during Senate hearing, Astronauts close to finding source of air leak at Int'l Space Station, First presidential debate takes place in Cleveland.
“Without human rights issues discussed, no other issues can be properly addressed.”, Center for Strategic and International Studies points to satellite images, Biden promises more traditional approach to Kim Jong Un, North Korean state TV gets a makeover, but the content is the same, Heavier-than-usual monsoon also threatens crop harvest, Don't Ignore North Korea Human Rights, UN Says, North Korea May Be Preparing Launch of Submarine Missile, Experts Say, US North Korea Policy at a Crossroads as Election Nears, Facing Overseas Competition, North Korea Modernizes its Propaganda, Malaysia Palm Oil Producer Vows to Clear Name after US Ban, China Uses Mental Illness to Discredit, Imprison Dissidents, Rights Observers Say, Lawmakers Warn US Failing to Adapt to Growing Chinese Threat, US Bans Palm Oil From Malaysian Company Amid Labor Abuse Allegations, China vs. Indonesia: Beijing Seen Alternating Pressure with Peacemaker Moves, Locked up in China - The Plight of Xinjiang's Muslims. Among the urgent human rights issues to be addressed, according to the escapees mentioned in the U.N.’s latest report: discrimination based on family background, torture and ill-treatment, sexual abuse, inhumane conditions in prisons and detention facilities, and the existence of political prisons. Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Tokyo says North Korean claims are "unacceptable," following a statement from the North Korean foreign ministry claiming the issue of abducted Japanese citizens has been resolved. Instead, Seoul prefers to focus on expanding ties with Pyongyang, hoping that will someday lead to a unified Korea that would respect human rights. North Korea: COVID-19 under control, weapons are 'self-defense'. 8 December 2017 A/HRC/37/56/Add.1 Shell to cut thousands of jobs in step toward renewable energy. Since the start of 2018, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has met three times with U.S. President Donald Trump and conducted three summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. South Korea’s left-leaning government also shies away from criticizing North Korean human rights abuses. Sept. 30 (UPI) -- North Korea held a discussion of COVID-19 related "emergency quarantine projects" during a Kim Jong Un-led meeting, but state media made no mention of the recent killing of a South Korean civilian. “These accounts show once again the systemic nature of human rights violations in the DPRK, and the need to keep seeking pathways to proper accountability for such crimes,” Bachelet said, using the acronym for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Special Rapporteur Tomás Ojea Quintana also told Voice of America's Korean service Kim Jong Un's alleged statement is not an apology, a claim South Korea made last week. 9 March 2018 A/HRC/37/69: This was a report of the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK. File Photo by KCNA/UPI |, Instant noodles eaten on special occasions in North Korea, defector says. Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Kuwait's emir since 2006, has died at 91, officials said Tuesday. It noted "with concern" that over 10 million North Koreans are estimated to be undernourished and that there is "an unacceptably … … Many expressed concerns that Pyongyang’s rights abuses have been ignored.

The man's brother Lee Rae-jin has dismissed the claims, and has said his sibling was being framed. North Korea eventually walked away from the talks, after the United States refused to relax sanctions and provide security guarantees. North Korea consistently ranks at or near the very bottom of most global human rights rankings, but often becomes enraged when other countries or international bodies mention its rights violations. Sept. 30 (UPI) --The U.N. investigator on North Korea human rights condemned Pyongyang for the slaying of a South Korean citizen last week. “This is a disappointment to escapees living in South Korea because, in the past, both the United States and South Korea raised North Korea’s human rights issues but, with the start of the summits, the human rights agenda has disappeared,” lamented one escapee quoted in the report. The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday condemned "the long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights in and by" North Korea … The paper, presented at the South Korean government-hosted Korea Global Forum for Peace, said Seoul and Washington should “integrate human rights into the peace and denuclearization talks” and “promote a participatory and inclusive peace process" by involving escapees living outside North Korea. “We cannot be too competitive in discussing this human rights issue," said Kyung-ok Do, a research fellow at the Seoul-based Korea Institute for National Unification. Seoul has said it is likely the man swam across the disputed maritime border in the West Sea, or Yellow Sea, suggesting he defected in violation of South Korean security law, and that the South faced limited options. The report only focused on women who had fled abroad, not the many people held in political prisons in North Korea which are believed to also be a site of human rights violations. North Korea is also launching a propaganda campaign against the South's military. Catch up on the developing stories making headlines. Testimonies suggest the women, who often fell into the custody of human traffickers, faced bonded labor or sexual exploitation in other countries — then were deemed traitors or punished for contacting Christian groups abroad after their return. Selected Human Rights Council Documents: View All: 23 March 2018 A/HRC/RES/37/28: This was a resolution extending the mandate of the special rapporteur for human rights in DPRK for one year.
The women spoke to U.N. human rights officials after eventually fleeing North Korea following their detention. On Tuesday, Quintana told VOA any intention of the South Korean to switch allegiances is irrelevant to the case.

Seoul to promote joint Olympics with North Korea, Brother denies slain South Korean official had planned to defect. "But it wasn't an apology because actually he also declared that the guards didn't infringe instructions and regulations when shooting the individual.". Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, longtime Kuwait emir, dies. Some members of the Trump administration have raised concerns about North Korean human rights abuses. The U.N. rights office also called on foreign countries where the women fled — at times including neighboring China — to respect the principle of “non-refoulement,” or not returning people to countries where they could face a real risk of human rights violations. Quintana's statement came the same day the North Korean ambassador to the U.N. credited Kim for fending off the coronavirus pandemic. India court acquits 32 in 1992 destruction of Babri Masjid mosque. NEW YORK, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- North Korea's top envoy to the United Nations said Tuesday that leader Kim Jong Un fended off the COVID-19 pandemic in his country. Japan rejects North Korea's statement on abducted citizens. North Korea must disclose all information to the family of the South Korean victim, and the South Korean government should demand the North exercise transparency, Quintana said. "These women have a right to justice, truth and reparation,” she added. SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - Negotiations with North Korea have been stalled for months, but if and when they resume, the United States and South Korea should ensure the talks incorporate concerns about North Korean human rights abuses, the United Nations’ human rights office in Seoul said Tuesday. UN report: North Korean officials abused repatriated women The U.N. human rights office says scores of North Korean women who traveled abroad in … At one point, North Korea demolished its de facto embassy with the South, citing the leaflets as a pretext. North Korea discussed 'defects' in COVID-19 policy, state media says. “It is heartbreaking to read these stories of women who fled their country looking to make ends meet, but who ended up being punished," High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet said in a statement accompanying the report. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights presented the findings in a new report that alleges “multiple and serious human rights violations by state security and police officials" in North Korea, based on 100 accounts from women who were detained in the secretive country from 2009 to 2019 after being forcibly returned home. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh continued for a third day Tuesday as appeals for a cease-fire were issued by international leaders. Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Amnesty International announced Tuesday that it will halt operations in India after the government in New Delhi froze the human rights organization's financial accounts there. Activist groups have long complained that human rights were not discussed during the 2018-19 North Korea talks, which focused on eliminating North Korea's nuclear weapons and improving Pyongyang’s relations with Washington and Seoul.

Many of the NGOs have said the crackdown risks stifling the entire North Korean human rights movement in South Korea. Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Oil producer Royal Dutch Shell announced Wednesday it will lay off thousands of workers by the end of 2022 as part of a step toward renewable energy. ", North Korea's Kim Jong Un reportedly expressed regret last week following the death of a South Korean national in North Korea. The U.N. official also said North Korea violated international human rights laws by shooting and possibly burning the 47-year-old South Korean fisheries ministry officer. North Korea's diplomatic mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Propaganda service Uriminzokkiri said Wednesday newly appointed Defense Minister Suh Wook and new chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Won In-choul are inviting confrontation, after Won said past North Korea-related incidents at sea were "deliberate military provocations.